Yinka Shonibare says: 'As we're opening our Christmas presents and eating our Christmas dinner, spare a thought for the less fortunate people. As the popular song goes: Thank God it's them instead of you. Do they know it's Christmas time?'

In his first weekly selection for the Guardian Northerner this March, Christopher Thomond goes farming and protesting in Cheshire and spends evenings at Ladybower and Blackpool. You can see his ten earlier Northern Eyes here.

Jonathan Yeo, Gillian Wearing, Antony Gormley and Tracey Emin are among artists who have created new works for The Crisis Commission exhibition, which aims to raise awareness and money for homeless charity Crisis. Here the artists discuss their works